• Discovery of a spatially and kinematically resolved 55~kpc-scale superbubble inflated by an intermediate redshift non-BAL quasar

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We report on the discovery of a rare case of spatially and kinematically resolved galactic scale outflow at intermediate redshift, based on VLT/MUSE optical integral field spectroscopic observation of the quasar HE 0238$-$1904. This classical non-broad absorption line (non-BAL) quasar at $z=0.631$ remains underexplored in its optical emission lines, though its UV absorption lines are well-studied. We identify a superbubble driven by HE 0238$-$1904 from the emission line morphology, line ratio diagnostics and kinematics, showing a one-sided outflow reaching a projected distance of $R \sim 55$ kpc from the nucleus. The bulk of the ionized gas, with a characteristic mass $M \sim 10^{8}~\rm M_{\odot}$, is blueshifted by $v \approx 700$ km s$^{-1}$ with respect to the quasar systemic velocity. The outflows detected using absorption line and the emission line are likely stratified components of different spatial scale and velocity in the ionized phase outflow. Although feedback in HE 0238$-$1904 is taking place on kpc scale, the kinetic power of the outflow at 55 kpc ($\ll 0.1\% L_{bol}$) implies that it is inadequate to regulate effectively the evolution of the host galaxy at this large scale.

  • Discovery of a spatially and kinematically resolved 55~kpc-scale superbubble inflated by an intermediate redshift non-BAL quasar

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We report on the discovery of a rare case of spatially and kinematically resolved galactic scale outflow at intermediate redshift, based on VLT/MUSE optical integral field spectroscopic observation of the quasar HE 0238$-$1904. This classical non-broad absorption line (non-BAL) quasar at $z=0.631$ remains underexplored in its optical emission lines, though its UV absorption lines are well-studied. We identify a superbubble driven by HE 0238$-$1904 from the emission line morphology, line ratio diagnostics and kinematics, showing a one-sided outflow reaching a projected distance of $R \sim 55$ kpc from the nucleus. The bulk of the ionized gas, with a characteristic mass $M \sim 10^{8}~\rm M_{\odot}$, is blueshifted by $v \approx 700$ km s$^{-1}$ with respect to the quasar systemic velocity. The outflows detected using absorption line and the emission line are likely stratified components of different spatial scale and velocity in the ionized phase outflow. Although feedback in HE 0238$-$1904 is taking place on kpc scale, the kinetic power of the outflow at 55 kpc ($\ll 0.1\% L_{bol}$) implies that it is inadequate to regulate effectively the evolution of the host galaxy at this large scale.

  • B2 0003+38A: a classical flat-spectrum radio quasar hosted by a rotation-dominated galaxy with a peculiar massive outflow

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We present a detailed analysis of the single-slit optical spectrum of the Flat-Spectrum Radio Quasar (FSRQ) B2 0003+38A, taken by the Echellette Spectrograph and Imager (ESI) on the Keck II telescope. This classical low-redshift FSRQ ($z=0.22911$, as measured from the stellar absorption lines) remains underexplored in its emission lines, though its broad-band continuum properties from radio to X-ray is well-studied. After removing the unresolved quasar nucleus and the starlight from the host galaxy, we obtain a spatially-resolved 2-D spectrum, which clearly shows three components, indicating a rotating disk, an extended emission line region (EELR) and an outflow. The bulk of the EELR, with a characteristic mass $M_{\rm EELR}\sim 10^{7}~\rm M_{\odot}$, and redshifted by $v_{\rm EELR}\approx 120$ km s$^{-1}$ with respect to the quasar systemic velocity, shows a one-sided structure stretching to a projected distance of $r_{\rm EELR}\sim 20$ kpc from the nucleus. The rotation curve of the rotating disk is well consistent with that of a typical galactic disk, suggesting that the FSRQ is hosted by a disk galaxy. This conclusion is in accordance with the facts that strong absorption in the HI 21-cm line was previously observed, and that Na I$\lambda\lambda5891,5897$ and Ca II$\lambda\lambda3934,3969$ doublets are detected in the optical ESI spectrum. B2 0003+38A will become the first FSRQ discovered to be hosted by a gas-rich disk galaxy, if this is confirmed by follow-up deep imaging and/or IFU mapping with high spatial resolution. These observations will also help unravel the origin of the EELR.